UN: A tweet by the UN Special Rapporteur on rights to housing stated that they were shocked to see the number of evictions because of the pandemic around the world. They said this could be seen everywhere from Brazil to Pakistan to the Bahamas in a vague comparison, and how this must be stopped. They commented on how not only can evictions become super spreaders, but also are a grave violation of human rights.
Shocked to see so many evictions during the pandemic, from Brazil to Pakistan to Bahamas. This scourge must be halted now if only in the interest of global public health – evictions can become super spreader events. They are also inhuman and a grave violation of human rights.
— UN Special Rapporteur on the right to housing (@adequatehousing) May 4, 2021
Shireen Mazari Replies: The mention of Pakistan in this tweet prompted the Human Rights Minister to reply and clarify that there are no evictions in Pakistan because of the pandemic. Contrary to that, construction is open and booming, and housing is being ‘handed out’ to workers in capital and provincial territories.
There are no evictions bec of pandemic in Pak. In fact during pandemic GoP has focused on keeping construction open as it focuses on low cost housing for workers – already ownership of such flats is being handed out to workers in capital territory & work in progress in provinces. https://t.co/OHjHwnvWOa
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 4, 2021
Criticism: Many Pakistanis saw the Human Rights Minister’s tweet and mocked it. A user commented on how the Gujjar Nala is forcing so many Karachiites to relocate and also mentioned the recent land grabbing scandal by Bahria Town Karachi.
There are mass evictions happening in Khi atleast4Kfamilies are uprooted at Gujjar Nalla in the name of"anti encroachment drive"on the other hand Bahria Town is grabbing land ,dispossessing indigenous ppl of their homes @ShireenMazari1 @adequatehousing #SayNoToBahriaTown https://t.co/har4gjlB0W pic.twitter.com/Z1AK6prEjW
— Aabida Ali (@aabidaali) May 5, 2021
Another user commented on how the Minister was disconnected from the on ground realities in her country and how her party is actively participant in evictions.
Dear Minister Mazari, this is a recent video from Gujjar Nullah which shows evictions during the pandemic. The MNA and MPA of this area are both from your party.
Either you’re ignorant about this move, or you’re telling lies with impunity.
Video via @UrbanPlannerNED https://t.co/ONob3NtnOo pic.twitter.com/5pVr5ok4D8
— Ali Aqa Gardezi (@SyedAliAqa) May 5, 2021
Activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir said that she should not negate claims made by the UN but rather fact check the realities first, in reference to the Gujjar Nala and Bahria Town scenario.
I would caution you to pls check your facts specially before directly negating a claim by a UN Special Rapporteur. 1000s are being dispossessed in Karachi by NDMA/KMC around Gujjar Nala (Houses are being demolished even right now) & by Bahria Town with Police help. https://t.co/Vrv99RR4EC
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) May 5, 2021
President of the Awami Worker’s Party, Ammar Rashid used irony at the fact that the images from the recent Bahria Town Karachi land grab were ‘free relocation services’ provided by the government and not forced evictions.
There are *no* evictions happening in Pakistan everyone, the images you see are just free and mandatory mass citizen relocation services being provided by the state through public-private partnerships. #StopGujjarNalaDemolitions#SayNoToBahriaTown https://t.co/t8zH3WzU41 pic.twitter.com/1PFkci5PW2
— Ammar Rashid (@AmmarRashidT) May 5, 2021
A user also made a comment on how remaining silent is one thing, but blatant denial and disregard for the on-ground realities is just something else.
It's one thing for a human rights minister to remain silent on the illegal demolition working class neighborhoods and quite another for them to issue bald faced lies about it https://t.co/uSrEiYoy8I
— Fahad Desmukh (@desmukh) May 5, 2021